开卷有益
开卷有益 (kāi juàn yǒu yì) literally means “opening a book is beneficial” and expresses “reading brings wisdom”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: kai juan you yi, kai juan you yi,开卷有益 meaning, 开卷有益 in english
Reading brings wisdom
Pronunciation: kāi juàn yǒu yì Literal meaning: Opening a book is beneficial
Origin & Usage
Emperor Taizong of Song commissioned a vast encyclopaedia and then undertook to read the whole of it, three scrolls a day, finishing in a year. Told he was damaging his health, he answered that opening (开) a scroll (卷) is always of benefit (有益), and that he did not find it tiring. The book was renamed in honour of the imperial reading and is known by that title still. The phrase is now what Chinese adults say to children about reading anything at all, which is a fair extension of an emperor's argument for not skipping a day.
Examples
English: "Every time I read a new book, I learn something valuable."
Chinese: 每当我读一本新书，开卷有益。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
读万卷书
dú wàn juàn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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手不释卷
shǒu bù shì juàn
Diligent in learning
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集思广益
jí sī guǎng yì
Gather wisdom from many
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精益求精
jīng yì qiú jīng
Constantly improve
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老当益壮
lǎo dāng yì zhuàng
Vigor despite age
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开门见山
kāi mén jiàn shān
Get straight to point
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豁然开朗
huò rán kāi lǎng
Suddenly see the light; become clear
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天外有天
tiān wài yǒu tiān
Always someone better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 开卷有益 mean in English?
开卷有益 (kāi juàn yǒu yì) literally translates to “Opening a book is beneficial” and is used to express “Reading brings wisdom”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 开卷有益 used?
Situation: Every time I read a new book, I learn something valuable.
What is the pinyin for 开卷有益?
The pinyin pronunciation for 开卷有益 is “kāi juàn yǒu yì”.